Ruth
how it was done, and as none of the crowd were able to do the trick, Crass showed that it could be accomplished by simply arranging the eleven matches so as to form the word NINE. Everybody said it was very good indeed, very clever and interesting. Both the Semi-Drunk and the Besotted Wretch were reminded by this trick of several others equally good, and they proceeded to do them; and then the men had another pint each all round as a reviver after the mental strain of the last few minutes.
Easton did not know any tricks himself, but he was an interested spectator until Ruth came over and touched his arm.
'Aren't you coming?'
'Wait a minute, can't you?' he cried, roughly. 'What's your hurry?'
'I don't want to stay here any longer,' said Ruth, hysterically; 'you said you'd come as soon as you saw that trick. If you don't come I shall go home by myself. I don't want to stay in this place any longer.'
'Well, go by yourself if you want to!' shouted Easton fiercely, pushing her away from him. 'I shall stop 'ere as long as I please, and if you don't like it you can do the other thing.'
Ruth staggered and nearly fell from the force of the push he gave her, and the man turned again to the table to watch the Semi-Drunk, who was arranging six matches so as to form the numeral XII, saying he could prove that this was equal to a thousand.
Ruth waited a few minutes longer, and then, as Easton took no further notice of her, she took up the string bag and the other parcels, and without staying to say good-night to Mrs Crass, who was earnestly conversing with the interesting Partaker, opened the door with some difficulty and went out into the street. The cold night air seemed refreshing and sweet after the foul atmosphere of the public-house. But after a little while she began to feel faint and dizzy and was conscious also that she walking unsteadily, and she fancied that people stared at her strangely as they passed. The parcels felt very heavy and awkward to carry, and the string bag seemed as if it were filled with lead.
Although under ordinary circumstances it was only about ten minutes' walk home, she resolved to go by one of the trams which passed by the end of North Street. With this intention
205
